Sintering machine car and grate bar therefor and the like



y 1931- E. D. EKSTEDT 1,807,154

SINTERING MACHINE CAR AND GRATE BAR THEREFOR AND THE LIKE Original Filed March 20, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR A TTORIIVEY May 26,1931. E. D. E KSTE DT 1,807,154

SINTERING MACHINE CAR AND vGRATE BAR THEREFOR AND THE LIKE Original Filed March 20, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 [N V EN TOR A TTQRNEi' is a series of suction Patented May 26, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERNEST D. EKSTEDT, OF EAST ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MES NE ASSIGNMENTS, '10 NATIONAL MALLEAIBLE AND STEEL OASTINGS COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO,

A CORPORATION OF OHIO SINTERING MACHINE CAR AND GRATE BAR TlHIEBEFOR AND THE LIKE Application filed March 20, 1923, Serial No. 626,269.- Renewed July 13, 1928.

My invention relates to sintering machines and the like and grate bars therefor, and

comprises a support and a grate bar cast in sections. The sections are readily assembled and secured upon the support upon which the sections are carried. My improved bar is so designed and supported that it is not as readily warped and distorted as the types of bars-now in service. My invention also comprises the various features which I shall hereinafter describe and claim.

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a sintering machine equipped with grate bars embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a pallet or car having my improved grate bars thereon; Fig. 3 is a section through one of the pallets on lines IIIII I of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a perspective of one of the grate bars; Fig. 5 is an end view of the bar shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is an end view of a pallet with the grate bars in place; Fi 7 is an end view of a pallet having a modi ed form of look ing bar; Fig. 8 is a section of a pallet showing a modified form of grate bar; Fi 9 and 10 are end views, respectively, 0 the left hand and right-hand ends of the bar shown in Fig. 8; and Fig. 11 is a central section thereof.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown my invention applied to a sintering machine of a suitable type, but it obviously may be applied to any machine in which sintering or e operations are carried on. The machine consists of a framework 2 around whichis built a track-way comprised of two sections 3 and 3 A train of small cars or pallets 4 runs on the track 3 and is moved slowly in the direction of the arrow by meansof the large drive wheel 5. As the cars pass under the chute 6 at the loading point A they are loaded with the material to be sintered and pass slowly toward the left. After passing the loading stage A they move beneath an igniting torch'7' at the point B. Located beneath this ortion of the track 3 ans 8 which draw the burning gas down through the material on the pallets 4, raising it to a 'sufiiciently high temperature to cause it to sinter or agglomerate into a more or less solid mass. The

the machine the tops of the wheels 4" are engaged b a separate section 3 of the trackway, so t at as the pallets 4 fall over the dumping end of the machine they are prevented from derailment by the track 3, and drop down a short distance to the dum ing position D and strike the rear end 0 the preceding pallet 4. This dropping is for the purpose of breaking up the material and dumping it.

After dumping, the empty pallets 4 then travel on the section 3 of the track-way around the under side of the machine and the wheels 4 again become engaged by the section 30f the track, upon which they are moved along to the loading platform A. In the type of machine illustrated the cars 4 are not coupled together, but simply push.one

another around underthe impulse of the driving wheel, so that each car is free to dro by gravity when it reaches the dumping en of t e machine.

Due to the heating of the grate bars from the material and the impact of the dumping the end frames 10 and 11 of the pallets and k at two intermediate points by transversely 1 extending ribs 12. Each bar is recessed at intervals along its sides so that air openings 14 are formed between adjacent bars 9. On the under side of each bar 9 near its forward end is a hook 15, which extends beneath a ledge 16 formed on the end frame 10 of the pallet. This hook 15. holds the forward end of the bar 9 from falling completely away from the pallet during the dumping operation, and also prevents the bar 9 from sliding in a forward direction. Near the rear end of the bar and also on its under side is a downward extension 17 which, by its bearing against the inner face of the rear end frame 11, holds the bar from movement in a rearward direction.

Suflicient clearance is provided between the bearing faces of the hook and projection 17 of the bar on the one hand and the inner faces of the end frames 10 and 11 on the other to permit the bar to have a slight longitudinal motion and also to fall away from 'therefrom.

the pallet a limited distance during the dumping operation, in order to help break up any of the material which may have adhered to the bars. This looseness or clearance also permits the bars and frame to expand freely from the heat of the sintering operation without warping or twisting. Across the rear end of the pallet is a retaining or locking member 18 which serves to hold the rear ends of the grate bars in position on the pallet, forms a retaining wall for the material at the rear end of thepallet, and is so arranged that it may be readily and quickly removed The member 18 also has a loose fit on the pallet to allow for expansion. One way of locking the retaining member 18 to the pallet is shown in Figs. 2 and 6. Here the member 18 is held at one end b a projection 19 which seats in a recess 20 111 a side wall 21 of the pallet, and at the other end by a pin 22 which passes through slotted lugs 23 in the member and the pallet frame. If it becomes necessary to remove any of the grate bars 9 while the machine is in operation, it is only necessary to pull out the pin 22, tip up the .end of the retaining member 18, and pull it laterally until the projection 19 is disengaged from the recess 20. The grate bars 9 may then be lifted out of the pallet and new ones applied, if necessary. The grate bars 9 are of such a width that they do not fit tightly against one another but have a sufficient looseness to take care of expansion and make renewal easy.

A preferred method of holding each bar in proper position is to make the lower surface of one or both ends of the bar V-shaped, as is shown in Figs/1, 5 and 6, the V-shaped end 24 resting in a corresponding groove 25 formed in the pallet. This permits each grate bar to be properly centered and prevents them from crowdingto one side or the other, thus keeping the air spaces 14 between the bars. uniform.

As the bars 9 are comparatively short and are supported not only at their ends but also at points intermediate their ends, they can be made comparatively light, with the result that a considerable saving in weight is effected. As the bars 9 run lengthwise of the pallet they are not subject to usual bending stresses normally caused by the dumping operation, as the end thrust of each bar is taker. up by its hook 15.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a modified form of retaining member, which is recessed at 26 above alternate bars 9 and hence engages the intermediate bars only by its projections 27. As these projections 27 are somewhat nar-. rower than the bars no one of them will overlap two bars, so that in addition to the looseness provided between the retaining member 18 and the bars, the alternate bars under the recesses 26 are free to fall away from the pallet a greater distance than the intermediate bars when the pallet turns over. This arrangement, of course, further assists in breaking up the material which might otherwise stick to the bars.

In Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 I have shown a further modification of my invention, in which the ends of the bars are provided with recesses 2 1 and the pallets have correspondingly shaped projections 25', thus reversing the construction shown in the preferred form. in which the recesses are in the pallets and the projections on the bars. The tops of the bars are also bevelled off at 28 to allow large pieces of ore to drop down between the bars to the extent of bevel, which tends to prevent the material from packing down too tightly and thereby provides a better flow of air through the spaces between the bars. The central portion 29 of the bar may also be reinforced, if desired.

a The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and are not of limitation, and I have no intention,'in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any mechanical equivalents of the features shown and described, or portions thereof, but recognize that various structural modifications are possible Within the scope of the invention claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In sintering machines, a travelling carrier comprising a frame with spaced apart ribs supporting grate bars, the grate bars extending in the direction of travel of the carrier, securing mechanism for attaching ends of the grate bars to one end of the carrier and alocking bar for securing the opposite ends of the grate bars to the opposite end of the carrier.

2. In sintering machines,- a travelling carrier comprising a frame supporting grate bars, the grate bars extending in the direction of travel of the carrier, securing mechanism for attaching ends of the grate bars to one end of the carrier and a locking bar for securing the opposite ends of the grate bars to the opposite end of the carrier, the grate bars having recesses in their sides to form air passages therebetween.

3. In sintering machines, a travelling carrier comprising a frame supporting grate bars, the grate bars extending in the direction of travel of the carrier, securing mechanism for attaching ends of the grate bars to one end of the carrier, a locking bar for securing the opposite ends of the grate bars to.

' ribs, grate bars supported on. said'ribs and so that said bars may move longitudinally relextending in the direction of travel of the carrier, each bar having at one end a bearing against the frame and at the other end being held in position by a transversely extending locking bar.

6. In sintering machines, a travelling carrier comprising a. frame, grate bars supported on said frame and extending in the direction of travel of the carrier, each bar having at one end a bearing against the frame and at the other end being held in position by a transversely extending locking bar, said bar havin a shouldered engagement with one of the sides of the carrierand a retainer for securing the bar to the opposite side of the carrier.

7. In sintering machines, a travelling carrier comprising a frame supporting grate bars, and a retaining member for holding the bars in position in said frame, said member having a projection and recess engagement with said frame.

8. A grate bar for sintering machines having a securin hook, a centering means and a plurality 0 bearing surfaces for engagement with a support, and also having in its sides recesses to provide air passages.

9. A movable sintering machine pallet shorter in the direction of its travel than in a transverse direction, grate bars secured to said pallet and disposed parallel to the direction of travel thereof, said bars being movable longitudinally relative to said pallet and independently of each other as the pallet travels its course. r

10. A pallet for an ore conveyor comprising. a frame, a plurality of grate bars, and means for securing said bars to said frame 'so that said bars may move longitudinally relatively to each other as the pallet traverses its course. a a V H 11. A pallet for an ore conveyor comprising a frame, a plurality of grate bars, and

means for securing said bars to said frame atively. tosaid frame as the, pallet traverses its COUI'SB.

12. A pallet for an ore conveyor comprising a frame having a supporting base with upstanding side members, a plurality of like intermediate grate bars on said base each having a body and spacing lugs, like end grate bars on said base each having a body and spacin lugs, said lugs being so disposed that the bodies of said bars are spaced from each other and from said walls, and means for securing said grate bars to said frame so that said bars may move relatively to said frame as the pallet travels its course.

13. A pallet for an ore conveyor comprising a frame, a plur'alit of grate bars, and

means for securing sai bars to said frame.

so that said barsmay move lon itudinally relatively to the frame and in $11 stantially the direction of the course of pallet travel as the allet traverses said course.

14L ing a frame, a plurality of grate bars, and means for securing said bars to said frame so that said bars may move longitudinally relatively to each other and in substantially the direction of the course of pallet travel as the pallet traverses said course.

ERNEST D. EKSTEDT.

pallet for more conveyor compris- 

